FORTY-FIVE POUNDS OF MARIJUANA SEIZED IN RAID
TRENTON
– At least 45 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $144,000 on the street
was seized along with $4,500 in cash, three handguns and a pellet gun when
officers with the Special Investigations Unit of the Mercer County
Prosecutor’s Office executed two search warrants and a consent search this
afternoon, Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.
“This
investigation will have a significant impact on the marijuana trade in Trenton.
The seizures of the guns once again demonstrates the connection between the drug
trade and the potential for violence,” Giaquinto said.
In
addition to the seizures, officers arrested Eric “Fudge” Adams (DOB
9/28/66), of the first block of Race Street, where the search warrant was
executed, and Jermaine “Dread” Anthony (DOB 7/23/76), of the first block of
North Hermitage Avenue. Adams was arrested during the raid, which occurred about
noon, while Anthony was taken into custody at the Trenton Train Station shortly
before the raid.
Officers
seized the cash, about 42 pounds of marijuana, and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun
from Adams’ Race Street residence. A search of a second dwelling of Adams’
uncovered three additional pounds of marijuana, Giaquinto said.
Officers also raided Anthony’s residence
where they found a .25-caliber handgun and a second handgun that had serial
numbers removed, a pellet gun along with a small amount of marijuana. As a
result of the investigation a third man, Terry Mason (DOB 3/7/77), of the Bronx,
N.Y., was taken into custody and charged with having had the defaced firearm
that was seized.
Investigators
described the Race and Cavell street address as
“stash houses.”
The
Special Investigations Unit, led by Lt. Al Paglione, launched its investigation
after receiving information that Anthony was allegedly selling large amounts of
marijuana. The investigation involved undercover officers making purchases of
several pound quantities of the drug from Anthony. SIU was assisted in its
investigation by Trenton Vice Enforcement Unit and Hamilton and West Windsor
police, which are members of the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force.
It
is alleged that instead of selling $20 baggies of marijuana, which is more
common for dealers, Anthony had allegedly been selling ounce quantities or more
of the drug, Giaquinto said. The marijuana was described as “high quality”
and had been referred to on the street by users as “skunk” because of its
unusually pungent odor, Paglione said. It is believed that the drug had been
brought to Trenton from New York.
Both
men were charged with a variety of drug offenses including possession and
distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone and weapons
offenses. Because of the large quantity of marijuana found at Race and Cavell
streets, Adams was charged with first-degree offenses and could face 20 years in
prison if convicted, while Anthony was charged with second-degree offenses that
carry a maximum 10-year term if he is convicted.